Friday, March 26, 2010

Champagne Before Children

Unionised workers will join beneficaries on picket duty outside Paula Bennett's electoral office in Henderson today at 11am, as anger against her attacks on the unemployed and their children mounts.

"100,000 people are on minimum wage, nearly half a million workers earn less than $15 an hour. Add the quarter of a million who are jobless and the quarter of a million people on the DPB or Sickness, and that's one million people below $15 an hour in this country." said Joe Carolan, Unite Union Campaign Organiser.

"Bennett and the government are trying to scapegoat the unemployed and to divide the working class- they'd rather anger was directed at struggling beneficaries and their children rather than at the idle rich who fund their National party."

"National are failing the working people of West Auckland- thousands are losing their jobs every month, but the government's response is to victimise these people rather than support. The real failure here is an economic system that puts profit before people, and champagne before children. The real bludgers in Aotearoa today are the millionaires who indulge in lives of luxury, whilst other people struggle to raise their families on a pittance."

"Today we see a picket of the unemployed. Next Thursday, April 1st, we will have a picket of low paid workers on Queen St. Both events will see unity between beneficaries and workers, because we are both poor. The Campaign for a Living Wage supports better wages for workers, and better benefits for those who need support and help. 100,000 people are on minimum wage, nearly half a million workers earn less than $15 an hour. Add the quarter of a million who are jobless and the quarter of a million people on the DPB or Sickness, and that's one million people below $15 an hour in this country.

1 comment:

Great post Joe. Thanks to the Living Wage campaign and Socialism Aotearoa, for your solidarity. Waitemata Unite will come to the picket on April 1st in support of low paid workers. Workers and Beneficiaries together can win our fight! Janet

Migrant workers are among the most vulnerable and exploited sections of the working class. The system and its laws conspire to put them ...

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